90+ Point Wine Club - October 2012
Learn the finer points of all of the incredible wines we deliver, from reviews to food pairings and wine characteristics. All of the wines included in our wine clubs are expertly researched and selected for quality, value and uniqueness.
Elevation Cellars - Woodinville, Washington
2008 Monolith Columbia Valley
Their name, Elevation Cellars, originates with the French winemaking term Elevage and represents the integration of the "journey from the grape to the glass" with their personal journey in winemaking. Their winemaking is inspired by their love of family as well as the surrounding mountains, which provide them with inner strength and contentment. Elevation Cellars embraces the complexity and integrity of the Washington grape for the purpose of producing an exquisite gift for their guests. Elevation Cellars opened in February of 2008 and procured grape contracts at some of the more renowned vineyards in Washington. The winemaker, Steven Stuart, collaborating with Matthew Loso, is committed to making the best wines possible, using the finest equipment, painstaking attention to detail, exceptional grapes and many years of combined experience. Their flagship wine is their Monolith Bordeaux blend. The 2008 is comprised of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Malbec, and 4% Petite Verdot from Red Mountain, Horse Heaven, and Royal Slope Appellations. The average age of these vines was 18 years. After fermentation, the wine spent 22 months in the barrel on 100% new French oak. The finished wine is complex and rich with a core of ripe, spicy currant, black cherry and plum that's pure and focused, elegant and juicy, with an amazing finish that reverberates with flavor and refined tannin. Shows great balance and concentration. Great now, but Monolith will continue to intensify with 8-12 years of age. This wine will benefit from a short time in a decanter. Pair with grilled beef medallions or game such as venison or elk. Only 350 cases were produced. 90 Points Wine & Spirits.
Domaine Fouassier – France
2009 Les Chasseignes Sancerre
The Fouassier family are one of the oldest families of winemakers in Sancerre, with ten generations of knowledge and experience, handed down from one generation to the next. Their current team is headed up by brothers Jean-Michel and Pierre Fouassier, together with sons Benoit and Paul. Both Jean-Michel and Pierre, and more recently Benoit and Paul have grown-up in the cellars and vineyards, helping out with the family business from a young age. "We have all worked in wine-making all our lives – it is in our blood!" says Jean-Michel. The Fouassier philosophy is to maintain a “respect for the land” in everything they do. They believe the best wines are produced when vines are grown with a respect for to the environment and surrounding landscape. Sancerre is famous for its three types of soils: white chalky soils, limestone and flint. Fouassier categorizes its wines by soil types, with white and brown labels representing grapes grown in two types of limestone soils and grey labels those in flint. The Fouassiers' large estate extending 53 hectares thus allows them a wide range of wines in various terroirs. Their Les Chasseignes offering is a brown label which means the grapes were grown in limestone soils and from 30 year old vines. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is both ripe and focused, with good cut to the straw, gooseberry and flint notes, followed by a long, defined finish. It is a very solid offering from one of the best Sancerre producers. Drink now through 2014. Only 2,200 cases made. 90 Points Wine Spectator.
Domaine du Gros’ Noré - France
2008 Bandol Rouge
Owner Alain Pascal has 16 ha of vines in the prime sector of Cadiere d’Azur. They have an average age of 30 years. The first official vintage released was 1997. Prior to this, Alain’s father, Honore (his name is shortened to ‘Nore to give the name of the Domaine as Gros Noré = Fat Honore) worked the vineyards but never made his own wine. Instead he sold the grapes to another leading Bandol producer at that time, Chateau de Pibarnon. Bandol is regarded as the First Growth of Provence producing the most serious, and well known, wines of Provence. The Mourvèdre grape variety is the basis of great Bandol with appellation laws requiring a minimum of 50% for the red wines (though many use up to 100% for some cuvees). As well as Mourvèdre (80%), the Gros’ Noré red also has a dash of Grenache(15%), and old vine Cinsault (5%). The wine is aged for 18 months in old 60 hl wooden barrels (foudres). There are no new barriques used. Only one cuvee of red wine is produced, and it is bottled without fining or filtration. The 2008 is very plush, with rich dark plum, cherry and kirsch flavors. Elegant violet and black licorice notes come to the fore, and this finishes with dark chocolate and spice notes. Drink now through 2017. 90 Points Wine Spectator.
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